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Further Reading
Men-at-Arms 101: The ConquistadorsDocuments the uniforms, equipment, history and organization of the Conquistadors themselves, and their formidable enemies in the New World—the Aztecs, Incas and Maya.
New Vanguard 96: Spanish Galleon 1530-1690Focuses on the development and construction of the Spanish galleon, including the ordnance and crewing needed to produce and maintain these stately vessels.
Essential Histories 60: The Spanish Invasion of Mexico 1519-1521Explores the background of the Aztec Empire and of the Spanish presence in Mexico, portraying the Spanish conquest of Mexico from political, strategic, tactical, cultural and individual perspectives.
Warrior 40: The Conquistador 1492-1550
Provides insights into the lives of the Spanish Conquistadors, detailing their motivation, training, tactics, weaponry and experiences in the New World.
Though small in number, the Spaniards clearly had the technological advantage; their iron swords, guns, horses and armour resulted in the deaths of over 7000 Indians (compared with zero fatalities on the Spaniards’ side). The Inca’s harrowing encounter with the Spaniards is described in the following extract from Warrior 40:The Conquistador 1492-1550
Since the days of Columbus, horses had played a fundamental role in all Conquistador expeditions. Indian people generally regarded them as mythical in nature often comparing them to giant deer until they learned their weaknesses. The Aztecs eventually learned to use pikes against them but only very late when the war had already been lost. Learning of Atahualpa’s arrival at Cajamarca, Pizarro set a trap for the Inca emperor. First a friar read the requerimiento, a ‘required’ document that outlined the Spaniards’ divine right of conquest. Dismissing it, Atahualpa pointed to the sun and remarked that his own god lived in the heavens, where he looked down upon his own children. In that instant, matchlocks blasted from the doorways where the Spaniards had concealed themselves and with shouts of ‘Santiago! Y a ellos!’ (‘Saint James and at them!’): the cavalry, led by Hernando de Soto, charged directly at Atahualpa’s bodyguard with devastating effect. Hooves rang across the courtyard and then thudded against the bare flesh of bodies too tightly packed to flee. Swords rended limbs and lances cut straight through two men at a time. The Inca army was totally surprised and overwhelmed by their first encounter with the horse in warfare. Pizarro himself then charged on foot, cutting his way with sword and dagger to Atahualpa to seize the emperor as his hostage.
Further Reading
Men-at-Arms 101: The ConquistadorsDocuments the uniforms, equipment, history and organization of the Conquistadors themselves, and their formidable enemies in the New World—the Aztecs, Incas and Maya.
New Vanguard 96: Spanish Galleon 1530-1690Focuses on the development and construction of the Spanish galleon, including the ordnance and crewing needed to produce and maintain these stately vessels.
Essential Histories 60: The Spanish Invasion of Mexico 1519-1521Explores the background of the Aztec Empire and of the Spanish presence in Mexico, portraying the Spanish conquest of Mexico from political, strategic, tactical, cultural and individual perspectives.
Warrior 40: The Conquistador 1492-1550
Provides insights into the lives of the Spanish Conquistadors, detailing their motivation, training, tactics, weaponry and experiences in the New World.
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